Teaching Your Children Personal Hygiene

Our total health connects to our personal hygiene.  

We can avoid many health disorders linked to inadequate cleanliness by taking care of our bodies in little ways every day.

As a mother, we must teach our children proper hygiene. 

From an early age, parents must teach their children about personal cleanliness. 

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we can avoid multiple diseases and ailments by maintaining adequate self-hygiene and cleaning body parts frequently.

How do we do this effectively? 

In this article, I will share some tricks and tips on grooming your children the proper way regarding their hygiene. 

Ready? 

Let’s dive in! 

What is personal hygiene for children? 

Bathing, brushing one’s teeth, and washing one’s hands are all examples of personal hygiene.

Children come into touch with dirt and dust that carry infection-causing bacteria whether they go to school, a park, or somewhere else. 

In reality, germs are in almost every setting. 

Kids tend to put their hands and toys in their mouths. These could pass through their hands and into the child’s body, producing a variety of ailments and infections. 

We may prevent this by instilling good personal hygiene habits in our children.

Why does personal hygiene matter?

It is critical to teach children the fundamentals of excellent personal hygiene to keep them healthy and clean.

Children who live in filthy environments and have inadequate personal hygiene are more susceptible to illness because their immune systems are not as robust as adults’.

Personal cleanliness can lead to a variety of benefits. For example, children will be able to do the following:

• They are pleased with themselves.
• Maintain and enjoy a positive body image – those who have poor personal hygiene have a negative body image, which can cause social problems.
• Develop an upbeat personality — being clean, well-dressed, and well-represented promotes one’s self-esteem, boosting one’s confidence and professional and social success prospects.

Read Also: 7 Easy Tips For Keeping Your Home Clean

Personal hygiene habits 

Here are four essential personal hygiene habits to instill in your child.

Hand washing 

Teaching your child to wash their hands is one of the most critical health and hygiene habits you can instill. 

Consider how many various objects and surfaces you come into contact with daily. Hand washing is undoubtedly one of the most effective strategies to prevent disease and the spread of germs.

Every day, pathogens come into contact with children.

Hand washing properly can help prevent the spread of a variety of illnesses, from the common cold to more serious infections like hepatitis A.

Hand washing is simple, inexpensive, and effective, and it can help you avoid sick days and doctor visits.

Teach your kids to cover their mouths when sneezing or coughing 

Make it a habit for your child to use a tissue to cover their mouth and nose or put their arm in the crook of their arm if they can’t get a tissue quickly enough.

Teach them never to pick their nose or eye 

Germs can quickly enter the body via the eyes, nose, and mouth mucous membranes. Remind your child not to pick their nose or touch their eyes.

Teach them to clean their teeth 

Get the children to develop the habit of brushing and flossing. Teach them to clean the tongue, the insides of the cheeks, and the roof of the mouth.  

Also, use a fun timer to encourage your child to brush for more extended periods.

Four ways to encourage your child to master the habit of personal hygiene

In the long run, your child might not be consistent in practice. So how do you ensure that they maintain the habit of personal cleanliness?

Start young 

It’s ok to start early. You are not required to wait. As toddlers, start educating them about the need for hygiene and grooming — bathing, brushing their teeth, washing hands, using the restroom independently, etc.

Be a good role model.

Maintaining good personal hygiene and being upfront about it is one of the most effective methods to teach new behaviors. 

If your child observes adults not showering or brushing their teeth in their life, they may believe that such conduct is expected and keep to that lifestyle.

Check in frequently 

It’s fantastic when your child can do most of their care without assistance. But, regardless of your child’s age level, be sure to check in on them now and then to make sure they’re keeping up with their excellent practices.

Keep the conversation going.

Personal hygiene is a topic that we should frequently discuss as your child grows older. Next, move on to the necessity of flossing once they have mastered cleaning their teeth independently. 

As children approach puberty (ages 8-10 for females and 10-12 for boys), these discussions should resurface. 

Maintain open lines of communication so that your child feels free to tell you about body hair, odor, or other changes they (or you) observe.

Rounding up 

Teaching your child the importance of personal hygiene is an integral part of their upbringing. 

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Viv.